The LEGO Group and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced a distribution partnership for LEGO Universe, releasing the second half of 2010. LEGO Universe will be the first MMOG – massively-multiplayer online game – based on the LEGO play experience for gamers of all ages. Under the deal, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will be the exclusive retail distributor of LEGO Universe outside of LEGO channels.

“WBIE has tremendous reach as one of the industry’s largest full-scale games publishers, which will enable LEGO Universe to access a broader audience of kids and families interested in online gaming,” said Henrik Taudorf Lorensen, Vice President, LEGO Digital, the LEGO Group. “We believe this partnership will be mutually beneficial for both companies, as well as end users, and are pleased to work with experts in the space on retail distribution for LEGO Universe.”

Developed by the LEGO Group and NetDevil, LEGO Universe will enable players of all ages to build, create, interact with friends, battle, and explore LEGO worlds – past, present and future. The MMOG is currently in a closed beta, with the game scheduled to release later this year.

LEGO Universe is a family-friendly online game, appropriate for players aged eight and above, centered around an epic battle between creativity and chaos. The LEGO brick lies at the center of the experience, and several levels of building are available, from simple gameplay-oriented challenges all the way up to sophisticated brick-by-brick design. With a focus on creativity and building, LEGO Universe invites players to flex their imaginations with the iconic brick in a vibrant online world.

“The LEGO Group has long been a leader in family entertainment, and we are excited to help extend the brand into the online arena through an MMOG platform with LEGO Universe,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “We look forward to expanding our relationship with the LEGO Group beyond what we’ve already established with the successful TT Games’ titles. LEGO Universe builds upon the LEGO video games business in an exciting new way.”